Sale, export and import of dog meat banned in north-east India

Selling dog meat has been banned in north-east India, authorities have confirmed.

The state of Nagaland has also halted the importing and exporting of the animal for food.

State chief Secretary Temjen Toy said on social media that canine meat, both "cooked and uncooked" was not permitted in the region.

It follows an appeal earlier in the week by Indian lawmaker Maneka Gandhi, who urged the Nagaland government to act. Her request came after she received fresh photographs of the trade from a Nagaland-based animal protection group.

Mr Toy tweeted: "The State Government has decided to ban commercial import and trading of dogs and dog markets and also the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked.

"Appreciate the wise decision taken by the State’s Cabinet."

Ms Gandhi’s appeal led to more than 125,000 people writing to the Nagaland government to urge the banning of the dog trade and the sale of meat.

Animal rights advocacy group Humane Society International said in a statement: “This is a major turning point in ending the cruelty in India’s hidden dog meat trade."

The group estimates that up to 30,000 dogs a year are smuggled into Nagaland, where they are sold in live markets. The group also says dogs are regularly beaten to death with wooden clubs.

Authorities praised the movement and Abu Metha, an adviser to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, (the state’s highest elected official) tweeted: “This is a progressive move. In this day and age, positive social media activism and advocacy has an enormous impact on policymakers. "Congrats and thanks to all."

Apart from Nagaland, thousands of dogs each year are illegally captured for consumption from the streets or stolen from homes in other north-eastern Indian states, including Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, rights groups say.